Carrier structure



Sept. 7, 1965 A. J. WEISS 3,204,815

CARRIER STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AszTHuz J. We as 6 min MgW c ATTORNEYj Sept. 7, 1965 A. J. WEISS CARRIER STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ARTHUZ J. WEI s5.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 3,204,815 (IARREER STRUCTURE Arthur J. Weiss, liergenfield, N..l., assignor to Continental Can (Iornpany, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 22, 19 6. 1, Ser. No. 140,105 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-113) This invention relates to a carrier for bottles and the like, that is to say, to a device for holding and convenient 1y carrying a plurality of bottles, cans or other containers, which carrier is made from sheet paperboard, or similar material, suitably blanked and formed so that the same may be shipped to the initial users thereof either in flat condition or partially set up.

An object of the present invention is to provide a carrier for containers such as bottles and the like made from flexible sheet paperboard, or similar tough flexible material, which may be inexpensively made and quickly set up in position to receive the bottles or other containers which are to be carried thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container for bottles and the like, which has an upstanding end flap engaged with inwardly folded side panel flaps so as to provide an end closure and support means, thereby inherently strengthening the carrier and forming an end retaining wall to prevent containers from accidentally slipping out from the carrier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier of the character described in which the bottom end edge is provided with an upstanding flap interlockingly engaging inwardly folded side flaps, thus forming an end supporting container holding closure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier of the character described in which the bottom panel thereof is provided, along its end edge, with a hinged and upstanding flap having opposed tabs thereon which interlockingly engage inwardly folded side flaps, thus providing an end supporting and container retaining closure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier of the character described in which vertically disposed partition members are placed therein so as to form a more complete separation for the bottles or containers to be held within the carrier and so as to further support the container as a whole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier of the character described in which the centrally located carrier portions are provided with partition members having central and side portions wherein said central portions are in back-to-back relation, and said side portions are connected to the centrally located and adjacent strap members so as to provide a more rigidly constructed carrier provided with means by which the containers carried therein are kept from contacting each other.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of an assembled carrier wherein the individual spaces for the bottles or like containers is clearly evidenced.

FIGURE 2 is a rotated end View of the completed carrier of FIGURE 1 taken from the right end thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the carrier taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial horizontal sectional View taken along lines l--4 of FIGURE 2 and evidencing in particular clarity the back-to-back and outwardly folded partition members.

FIGURE 5 is a pictorial view of a flattened carrier taken from a similar perspective as FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the completed blank from which the carrier is made, with a partition member being shown in place on the upper portion of the blank, while in the bottom portion of the blank, a partition member has been omitted.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a partition member.

Referring to the drawings and more particular to FIGURE 6 thereof, the sheet or blank 1 from which the carrier is made is substantially symmetrical about a transverse fold line 30. On each side of the transverse fold line 30 there are two rectangular panels 2 which together form the bottom of the carrier. These panels 2 are each of a width substantially equal to that of the diameter of the container and of a length generally equal to a multiple of diameters of the containers, according to the number of said containers which are to be placed in the carrier.

Each of the bottom panels 2 has a panel joined thereto, along transverse fold lines 31. These latter panels, generally designated 3, make up the side panels of the completed and set-up carrier. Each of the side panels 3 is, in turn, connected to one of a pair of offset upper panels 8, by means of a plurality of straps 4, 4a and 4b which may be inclined as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 6. The straps 4 are of the same shape and are centrally disposed in relation to the set-up carrier, and are situated between end straps 4a and 4!). Left end straps 4a are connected, at one end, to the upper panels 8 by longitudinal fold lines 34, and at the other end to side panels through side panel flaps 5a by longitudinal fold lines 32. End straps 4a are similarly shaped as straps 4 but can be distinguished therefrom, in that straps 4a exhibit a wider central portion and are cut so as to exhibit a more pronounced upper horizontal edge, noting, that slits 9 which are cut into and through the sheet or blank shape both the upper and lower portions of straps 4, the lower portion of straps 411 being of a flipped Z configuration.

The right end straps 4b are, at one end, connected to upper panels 3 through upper panel end flaps 13 by longitudinal fold lines 35 and, at the other end, to side panels 3 by longitudinal fold lines 33. End straps 4b are also similarly shaped as straps 4, but are wider and each exhibits a more smooth or curved upper surface as defined by curved slit 9a. The upper portion of each right end strap 4b is defined by slits 9a and its lower portion by an inclined cut edge 9b. Longitudinal fold lines 10 are further provided where straps 4 join the side panel 3 as Well as at the points where the straps 4 join the upper panel 8.

The side panels 3, disposed between the bottom panels 2 and the upper panels 8, have the aforementioned flaps 5 and 5a extending from each side thereof. The side panel 5a are connected to the side panels through longitudinally fold lines 32, while side panel flaps 5 are connected to side panel members 3 through longitudinal fold lines 33, which may be partially cut or scored so as to facilitate easy folding.

The upper panels 8 are provided with left flaps 12 and right flaps 13. Each left flap 12 is provided with a longitudinal fold line 34 and each right flap 13 with a longitudinal fold line 35. One of the upper panels 8 is fur ther provided with a flap 14 connected thereto by a transverse fold line 36. The upper panels 8 are generally further provided with centrally located cut-outs so as to provide a grip type holder 15. Said holder 15 may have arcuate shaped tabs 16 extending thereinto and transversely creased along line 37, so as to facilitate the ease in which the fingers may be inserted within the gripper hole, upon mechanical transport of containers therein by the ultimate user.

When setting up the container carrier for shipment to the initial user, as shown in FIGURE 5, the blank of FIGURE 6 is folded upon itself along the transverse fold line 30. The flaps 13 areinwardly folded and secured to each other as by gluing, whereupon the upper panels 8 are laid in contact with one another and secured together, if desired. The flap member 14 is bent upon said transverse fold line 36 to thus contact the upper portion of the opposite upper panel, and may be atfixed thereto by known means such as by gluing or stapling. The flaps 12. are then bent about transverse fold lines 38 and secured,

as by gluing, to the respective inside portions of the un-' derlying strap members 4a. The same is true with side flaps 5a which are bent about longitudinal fold lines 32 into contact with the adjacent overlying straps 4a and are secured thereto. The carrier now flattened upon itself, is ready for shipment to the initial user.

Basic carriers of the type above described, however, have been found to have several shortcomings. Gne of these shortcomings is that in the carriers ultimate use of transporting containers held therein, the centrally located straps 4 do not adequately bear up against the forces exerted thereon. The weight of the carried containers through the bottom and side panels exerts a downward force upon the lowermost side of the straps and at times causes such straps to become misshaped and to take on a bowed or twisted aspect, thus weakening the carrier as a whole. Furthermore, in some instances, the containers may shift within the carrier, thereby not only increasing the load exerted upon the supporting strap located in the direction of such a shift, but further causing contact between the containers, thus increasing the danger of denting, chipping or breaking the containers themselves, dependent, of course, on the nature of such containers. Obviously, if too much force is exerted on any one supporting strap, the possibility of such strap buckling or tearing at its joined portions is also increased.

Another shortcoming of such a basic carrier is that often no adequate end. closures for such are provided. In such cases the containers, normally held within the carrier structure, are subjected to the danger that, upon transport, they may become displaced or dislodged from their normal carrying position and slip, bottom first, from an open or inadequate end closure.

To overcome these difficulties and shortcomings of the above described basic carrier, there have been provided two important features which form the major part of the inventive concept of the present application. One of these is the provision of centrally disposed partitions and the other is the provision of a quick action bottom end flap. Another novel feature that distinguishes from existing carriers is the flipped Z configuration of the supporting strap slits so as to provide horizontal strap portions where the straps are joined to the upper and side panels which reduces any possibility of tears occurring along such juncture.

The function and operation of the centrally located partitions and the quick action end flaps will be clarified by the following descriptive matter.

Referring to the drawings in general, and, in particular, FIGURE 6 thereof, the opposite ends of the bottom panels 2 have flaps 6 formed thereon. The flaps 6 may be longitudinally folded along fold lines 11 and transversely folded along the fold lines 30a which are aligned with the transverse fold line 30. The bottom end flaps 6 are further provided with extending tabs 7.

A partition member 17 is generally shown in FIGURE 7 and comprises a generally rectangular central portion 18 and two side extending portions 19. The sideportions 19 may each be provided with an upstanding tab 20, and are joined to the central portions 18 along longitudinal fold lines 40 which may be scored or partially cut to facilitate the ease in which the side portions 19 may be folded relative to the centrally disposed portion 18.

With refrence to FIGURE 6, it can be seen that the partition member 17 is shown as being secured to the straps 4 which are centrally located on such panel member, as by gluing or other common forms of securement. Normally, the partition member 17 is folded so that one of the side extensions 19 is in back-to-back overlying relationship with the central portion 18, thus facilitating the ease in which the partition member may be secured to the inclined flaps. This is, of course, preferably done while the carrier is in blank shape as in FIGURE 6. It is further evident that tabs 20, upon positioning of partition 17, will overlie the straps 4 and thereby present convenient securing areas.

When the initial user receives the flattened carrier it is a simple matter to set the same up in the completed and usable condition. Merely by applying a slight downward pressure upon the upstanding upper panel and handle section the bottom panels will become flattened, and the now upstanding side panels will become spaced from each other by the narrow transverse supporting straps 4, 4a and 4b. The bottom end flaps 6 are then upwardly folded so as to assume a vertical position and the integral tabs 7 inwardly pushed to interlock behind the side panel end flaps 5 and 512, respectively, as shown in FIGURE 1, thus completing the assembled carrier. It is likewise apparent that a definite outward force applied to end flaps 6 will disengage tabs 7 from behind side panel flaps 5 and 5a, respectively, and thus permit the set-up carrier to be rendered to its collapsed con dition, for storage, shipment, re-use or the like, as shown by FIGURE 5.

The ease in which the end flaps 6 are utilized to further stiffen the assembled carrier and to provide an end abutment therefor, is also shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, noting in particular the previously described extreme convenience of such arrangement.

The particular arrangement of the folded partition member 17 may be more specifically observed from the partial horizontal sectional view of FIGURE 2, that is FIGURE 4, wherein the center panels 18 of partitions 17 are shown in back-to-back relationship with their side portions 19 outwardly bent to form separate U-shaped members. The central portions 18 may be fastened together, as by gluing, stapling etc. It should be further noted that in a preferred form, and as shown in FIG- URE 3, the side portions 19 of partition member 17 are secured to the inside portions of adjacent straps4. In this Way, the tabs 20 are not apparent to casual observation when the carrier is in the folded condition, as shown in FIGURE 5. This arrangement further assures a more rigid structure than might be obtained when tabs 20 were secured to facing sides of adjacent strap members or when such partitions are bent, inserted and secured in such manner into an already assembled or set-up carrier, and thus assures that the forces exerted on any one supporting strap 4 will be more equally distributed to the remaining ones.

When the carrier is fully set-up as shown in FIGURE 1, it is filled with containers such as bottles, noting further that each bottle is separated from the next by the provision of the separate compartments formed by partition and stiffening members 17, hence, the bottles will be less likely to become damaged or broken upon display and transport. Furthermore, each container may be readily removed from the carrier without disturbing any of the others, and it is not necessary to separate any of the parts of the carrier for the purpose of removing any of the containers therefrom.

While the particular carrier shown is designed to carry siX containers, the number six now being in apparent vogue, it is to be understood that the novel and inventive features herein disclosed could as well be applied to containers designed to hold and carry more or less than six containers.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawings are merely illustrative, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A completely folded blank for ultimate shaping into a container for bottles and the like, composed of sheet material and comprising bottom panels connected to each other along a transverse fold line, side panels connected to said bottom panels along transverse fold lines, upper panels displaced longitudinally from said side panels, straps connecting said upper and said side panels together along longitudinal fold lines, said straps having first and second opposite faces, said side panels having end flaps connected thereto along longitudinal fold lines, said bottom panels having end fiaps connected thereto along longitudinal fold lines, and partitions each comprising a central panel having side partition panels connected thereto along longitudinal fold lines, said partitions each including first and second oppositely directed faces, said partitions being folded to bring the first side face of one of said side panels into overlying adhesive securement with a second face of one of said straps, and the second of said opposed side faces of the other of said side panels being in overlying adhesive securement with the second face of another of said straps whereby upon the shaping of said folded blank to form a container, the side panels of said partition are secured to non-confronting faces of said straps.

2. The completely folded blank as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said side panels includes offset tab portions and only said offset tab portions secure the partitions to the non-confronting faces of the straps.

3. The completely folded blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab portions are substantially triangular in outline and conform to the general configuration of said straps.

4. The completely folded blank as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the tab portions is of a triangular configuration corresponding generally to portions of the straps and only said offset tab portions secure the partitions to the non-confronting faces of the straps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,492 11/42 Fischer 220-113 X 2,367,066 1/45 Slevin 220-113 2,372,351 3/45 Arneson 220-113 X 3,017,054 1/62 Forrer 220-113 3,029,977 4/62 Arneson 220-113 3,037,661 6/62 Gish 220-113 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A COMPLETELY FOLDED BLANK FOR ULTIMATE SHAPING INTO A CONTAINER FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE, COMPOSED OF SHEET MATERIAL AND COMPRISING BOTTOM PANELS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER ALONG A TRANSVERSE FOLD LINE, SIDE PANELS CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM PANELS ALONG TRANSVERSE FOLD LINES, UPPER PANELS DISPLACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAID SIDE PANELS, STRAPS CONNECTING SAID UPPER AND SAID SIDE PANELS TOGETHER ALONG LONGITUDINAL FOLD LINES, FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE FACES, SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING END FLAPS CONNECTED THERETO ALONG LONGITUDINAL FOLD LINES, SAID BOTTOM PANELS HAVING END FLAPS CONNECTED THERETO ALONG LONGITUDINAL FOLD LINES, AND PARTITIONS EACH COMPRISING A CENTRAL PANEL HAVING SIDE PARTITION PANELS CONNECTED THERETO ALONG LONGITUDINAL FOLD LINES, SAID PARTITIONS EACH INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITELY DIRECTED FACES, SAID PARTITIONS BEING FOLDED TO BRING THE FIRST SIDE FACE OF ONE OF SAID SIDE PANELS INTO OVERLYING ADHESIVE SUCUREMENT WITH A SECOND FACE OF ONE OF SAID STRAPS, AND THE SECOND OF SAID OPPOSED SIDE FACES OF THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE PANELS BEING IN OVERLYING ADHESIVE SECUREMENT WITH THE SECOND FACE OF ANOTHER OF SAID STRAPS WHEREBY UPON THE SHAPING OF SAID FOLDED BLANK FO FORM A CONTAINER, THE SIDE PANELS OF SAID PARTITION ARE SECURED TO NON-CONFRONTING FACES OF SAID STRAPS. 